Bob Hoekstra
December 25, 2017
A Biblical Example of Spirit-led Praying
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not
cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of
His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may have a walk
worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him. (Colossians 1:9-10a)
As we have seen, the Lord calls us in various ways to pray
without ceasing. We are to engage every issue of life every day in every way
through Spirit-led prayer: "Praying always with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:18). In addition to this
extensive call to prayer, the word of God also gives us heavenly insight
concerning the general content of our prayers. Our next two meditations reflect
this by offering a biblical example of Spirit-led praying.
The Apostle Paul prayed consistently for the believers at
Colosse. "We…do not cease to pray for you." God's will was the
primary issue about which the Holy Spirit impressed Paul to pray: "to ask
that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will." Such praying will
ultimately lead people into the word of God, where the will of God is revealed.
"This is the will of God, your sanctification…in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 4:3;
5:18). Truly understanding God's will requires heavenly insight: "in all
wisdom and spiritual understanding." Of course, this is the ministry of
the Holy Spirit. "When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide
you into all truth" (John 16:13).
The Lord does not inform us of His will merely for our
curiosity. Knowing God's will is to lead to living God's will: "that you
may have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him." Our Lord desires
that we walk in a manner appropriate for identifying with Him and His great
gospel of grace. "Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of
Christ" (Philippians 1:27). He wants us to be interested in what pleases
Him, not what pleases self or the world: "proving what is acceptable
[well-pleasing] to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:10). The Lord wants to work in
us the heart seen in David's Messianic confession. "I delight to do Your
will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart" (Psalm 40:8). Bringing
the will of God into the heart of man is what the new covenant of grace
accomplishes. "I will make a new covenant …I will put My law in their
minds, and write it on their hearts…who also made us sufficient as ministers
[servants] of the new covenant" (Jeremiah 31:31, 33 and 2 Corinthians
3:6). Living in prayerful dependence upon the grace of God will make us true
"servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart" (Ephesians
6:6).
Dear Lord, I want to be fully controlled by Your will,
pleasing You in every way. From Your word, grant me Holy Spirit insight into
Your will. Teach me to pray in this Spirit-led manner, that Your grace might
lead me to do Your will from deep within my heart.
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